Funds under Finance Commission not charity but lawful right of PRIs: AJKPC

Excelsior Correspondent
BUDGAM, Mar 14: In its third program under block wise series of programs of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), the rural local body today held Panchayat Interactive session here in district Budgam of Kashmir wherein a large number of elected Panchayat members attended the program under the chairmanship of AJKPC president Anil Sharma.
While addressing the gathering Anil Sharma appealed the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to direct the Rural Development Department to not tinker with the grants available with the Panchayats under 14th Finance Commission and let them use it for making payment to complete ongoing works.
He also demanded that the installments due under the 15th Finance Commission be also released to rural local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir union territory as the installments have been released to other States of India from 2021.
Sharma said withholding the installments of 15th Finance Commission of J & K Panchayats is not only injustice but also illegal as amount given under Finance Commissions is neither charity nor any discretionary grant but a lawful right of the Panchayati Raj Institutions of Jammu and Kashmir which should be released in time bound manner without imposing any special conditions.
He also cautioned the officers to remain careful in dealing with the funds of the Panchayati Raj Institutions and hinted to adopt legal recourse against them if they continue to cow down and undermine the authority and autonomy of rural local bodies.
The prominent people who addressed the gathering, included BDC Chairman AK Pandita and Sarpanches Mohed Safi Parry, Imtyaz Ahmed Lone, Imtyaz Hussain Mir, Abdul Latif Dar, Muzaffer Ahamed Parry, Mukhtar Ahamed Bhat, Shawaz Wahied, Sayed Azaiz, Abdul Rashid Mir, Farooq Ahamed Malla .